Review

The biggest problem and biggest strength of Games' That We Can Play EP is their dedication to honoring to the 80s and its culture. As much as 80s revivalism dominated much of the electronic scene for the last decade, Daniel Lopatin and Joel Ford took it to its absolute extreme with this record, lifting much from the Korg-dominated music that permeated much of that time. This sound is the epitome of vapid party music, recalling sentimental nostalgia figures like John Hughes movies and dated commercials, which feature in their music videos. But who cares, right" The tracks here are very well-made, all echoing synths and claustrophobic vocal samples alike, creating a panicked atmosphere in "Shadows In Bloom". Elsewhere on the record, anthemic pleasure abounds with guest vocalist Laurel Halo on "Strawberry Skies", as the song bears resemblance to its namesake, soaring with gusto. Games do great work here starting a party and making sure everyone's having a rad time, but after That We Can Play is done, all you're left with is a gratuitous cleanup session, and some vague memories of what the hell happened.